Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

IQALUIT (July 19/99) - Iqaluit town council has moved to fill what it sees as a leadership vacuum with administration.

On Tuesday, council established a new committee, the executive committee, to give it a more direct role in the business of managing the town.

The proposal, advanced by Coun. Matthew Spence, got a very cool reception from two senior staff at the meeting.

"This item has been discussed before," said deputy senior administrative officer Ookalik Curley. "There has been an interest by council in being more involved in the day to day operations. As senior officials our job is to deal with the day to day business on behalf of council."

Acting senior administrative officer Paul Fraser said there was a need for a clear separation between administration and council and urged council to clearly define the role of the committee before establishing it.

"We need, between council and administration, an opportunity to talk about how we can plan a smoother operation," said Fraser.

Spence found the arguments unconvincing.

"We as a council have the authority to set up any committee we like," he said. "We don't need to discuss it with administration."

Council elected to establish the committee, despite Mayor Kilabuk's urging to "move slowly on this."

The committee will be composed of the mayor, two committee chairpersons and a member at large. Coun. Lynda Gunn volunteered for and was approved as a member of the committee.

The need for the committee, Spence later said, is largely the result of absences by current senior administrative officer John Raycroft.

"He's away, and he's away a lot, and I'm finding there's a vacuum at the senior management level."

Spence said Tuesday's council meeting was the third Raycroft has missed this fiscal year. Council often is not given advance notice of his absences, said Spence.

"What I envision is weekly management meetings between us and the directors," said Spence, adding he does not think the meetings will be open, saying no council decisions would be made at the gatherings.

Weekly closed meetings between Yellowknife city council and city directors, referred to as "briefing meetings" were held for years. Two years ago a judge ruled the closed meetings were illegal.

Spence recalled a similar committee was used during the two-month stretch between the last SAO's departure and Raycroft's arrival a little over a year ago.

Tuesday's meeting ended with Gunn persuading council a discussion about a personnel matter was necessary. The discussion was held behind closed doors.

Only Fraser was asked to stay.